Go Outside

Catchy title? Nah, I didn't think so either.

BUT IT'S TRUE.

The past few weeks it has been rainy and cold (because apparently Tennessee is too good for Fall - lame) and not really good "play" weather. I've been studying and writing ridiculously long essays for midterms at school. The Hubs has been rushing around doing odd jobs and looking for a better full-time job to support us. I've recently joined this awesome program-type-thing to de-clutter and keep the apartment clean and awesome.

Needless to say, we've been busy, busy bees.

However, that doesn't mean that not taking my son to the park for weeks is okay, because it isn't. We weren't stuck in the house 24/7 by any means, but we were both getting some serious cabin fever.

In the past several days, he got to play in a barn, went to two different parks, and had SO much play time out of the apartment. It has completely changed his behavior. (Well, mostly. He's still a toddler, after all.)

I was shocked. The benefits of playing are not new to me. I've read all about how it aids their physical and mental growth. But to see it in action was kind of mind-blowing.

So, lovely readers of mine (of which there are so few...Ha!) I challenge you, whether you have kids or not, to go outside and play. Do you think you're too old for that? Do you think you have more important things to do? You're not and you probably don't. Stop sitting there making excuses to stay inside like I was. Don't worry about anything. For at least half an hour, go. Take a walk. Go for a jog. Swing on a swing set! Find a peaceful place and just look around.

The leaves around here are changing. Go to the mountains, even if you just drive around Cades Cove, get out and get some fresh air. It doesn't matter how old you are. Everyone can use an uplift in spirit sometimes, especially when winter is approaching and we all know it's about to get really, really cold.

Seriously. Beautiful.

 So, just go.

-Mommy Michelle